The Bulls came into this season hoping they could become one of the big national media stories.
This wasn’t what they exactly had in mind when Tuesday the biggest NBA story of the day — at least until Draymond Green tried to murder Rudy Gobert — became internet sourced reports and speculation that “NBA teams are probing the availability” of LaVine and “there’s been increased openness from the Bulls and LaVine about exploring a trade.”
Though when the Bulls host the Orlando Magic Wednesday, LaVine will be in his familiar spot as shooting guard and last to be introduced pregame, and DeMar DeRozan will be missing.
No, DeRozan wasn’t traded; the Bulls listed DeRozan absent for personal reasons.
And then LaVine meeting with reporters Wednesday morning after the team practice was asked to get personal.
He said he’s ready to play the next game, and everyone then gets to read into the rest what they prefer. This figures to continue for awhile.
“If we need to talk about that (being elsewhere, traded) at a time, you know … right now is not that time to really talk about that. Play the Orlando Magic tonight, try and get a win,” said LaVine. “If something comes obviously out later on that will be the time I talk about it.
“I’m frustrated we’re not winning,” LaVine acknowledged. “If you’re not frustrated then that’s the problem. It’s upsetting when we’ve tried to do the right thing for the last three, four years and it seems like we’re in the same place; we’re trying to get over that hump. We’re working every day for it. We’re going to keep doing it.”
Though once rumors and speculation reach the stage when the player has to respond and it becomes a talking point with a team off to a slow start like the Bulls current 4-7, it usually means something is going to occur.
Or that it isn’t.
Four or five wins in a row can change everything.
Or maybe a good talk.
I remember when Hakeem Olajuwon said he’d never play for the Houston Rockets again and I came up with a list of trades to 26 teams, only because there weren’t as many teams at the time. Then they talked it over and the Rockets, thanks to Michael Jordan’s interest in baseball, went on to win two NBA titles.
No, this isn’t also a prediction.
There has been smoke with rumors and speculation about a LaVine, let’s say relocation, at times since earlier this year at the trade deadline and in the summer. But no fire yet. That’s part of NBA being a business, as the players like to say, and a large part of the attraction of the NBA. There’s a lot of offseason attention in the NFL, but mostly about mock drafts that change weekly even though nothing happens. Stuff happens in the NBA, like just in the last year Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard and James Harden being traded.
It’s almost an insult to DeRozan and LaVine that they haven’t been.
That’s basically life in the NBA.
So this week it’s LaVine, which doesn’t suggest it will or won’t happen.
The Bulls haven’t said anything, which is boilerplate operations for, well, a business.
In the NBA business, to their credit, it’s the players who do most of the talking.
And LaVine has been one of the most accommodating and cooperative players the franchise has had. He’s always been available to media no matter the issues since he was part of the Jimmy Butler trade in 2017. Which wasn’t an easy time to become a Bull since his acquisition coincided with the Bulls breaking up their core to rebuild. So LaVine went on to play for three different coaches and two different management teams with the accompanying changes of philosophy. And did pretty well, making two NBA All-Star teams and being selected for the USA Basketball Olympic team and being part of a gold medal-winning group.
Since coming to the Bulls, the slashing 6-foot-5 LaVine has become one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA, averaging more than 25 points per game the last six years and shooting as high as 42% on threes one season. And he rarely sits out games. The 28-year-old LaVine negotiated a five-year maximum value contract with the team. But during LaVine’s tenure, the Bulls have been to the playoffs once and lost 4-1 to Milwaukee in that one series, after which LaVine needed a knee procedure. Despite that, he remains one of the most explosive, highlight dunking players in the NBA and likely the player who’s made the most complete return from a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury.
LaVine also is off to an unexpected start, shooting about 41% overall, but still averaging 21.9 per game.
Then again, when things aren’t going as expected — or hoped — for a team, the only inevitability becomes change.
And then come the rumors and internet discussion.
So again, to his credit, LaVine Wednesday didn’t run from anything, though one could say his responses were as elusive as he can be on the court at times.
If he asked to be traded, LaVine said, “My camp (Klutch Sports, which also represents LeBron James) talks to them all the time. It’s not like we’re not in a good relationship or a good talking space. We understand the business of basketball. I do more than most people. People talk. I’ve been in trade talks for a long time, so I understand the situation. But once news is always broken it’s a big thing. It’s not like it will be the first or the last time it’s going to happen with my name. As of right now, I’m excited to still put this jersey on and go out here and play, try and get this win tonight.
“It’s a combination of things where if you’re in a losing situation or a place you’re not winning games, people are frustrated,” LaVine agreed. “From players to the front office, the coaches … we’re not happy because we’re not winning. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s just the nature of the business. More things come up when you’re not in a winning environment. I’ve been supported in Chicago for a long time. I’ve been here for seven years now, and never not been supported. Love my time here in Chicago. I’ve always loved being a Bull, and that hasn’t changed.’’
The burden LaVine faces with the Bulls, or perhaps better to suggest it’s the inequity, is the debate about if he’s good enough to lead a team to a championship. Of course, every star player likes to believe they are. Though it was difficult for Michael Jordan before Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen. And then after Grant left as a free agent before, oh yeah, Dennis Rodman. And with that we shouldn’t forget with Jack Haley’s return.
The irony is DeRozan, who is a multiple-time all-NBA player, never is asked that.
But sometimes, as they say, you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield. That might not make sense, but a lot of the stuff doesn’t always.
“Do I believe that? Yeah, that’s why I’m here,” LaVine said when asked about being the alpha. “They obviously offered me a contract to be here for a long time. Do I think we’re a championship team right now? No, but it’s a work in progress. I think everybody goes through ups and downs, players, teams. We’re in a situation now where I think we just want to win. That’s all I want to do, too. This is a business. We’ve dealt with a lot more than people talking in the media. Obviously, there was some news in the media (Tuesday). But we’re grown men. We’re a professional business. We know how to handle that. That’s why I have representatives like Rich Paul. That’s who I obviously have my camp with. They talk to (Executive Vice president of Basketball Operations) Arturas (Karnišovas) and them. My job is to go out here and play. Simple as that.”
And then, as we know, to be continued.
Got a question for Sam?
Submit your question to Sam at asksam@bulls.com
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. All opinions expressed by Sam Smith are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Chicago Bulls or its Basketball Operations staff, parent company, partners, or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Bulls and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.